Selangor assembly passes motion on houses of worship

SHAH ALAM, July 13 (Bernama) -- The Selangor Assembly today passed a motion that requires state executive council approval for demolishing or moving any house of worship, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.

The motion also called for all places of worship to be preserved at their original site.
The motion was tabled by M.Manoharan (DAP-Kota Alam Shah) and seconded by Lau Weng San (DAP-Kg Tunku), Gan Pei Nei (PKR-Rawang) and Lee Kim Sin (PKR-Kajang).

It asked the state government to issue a circular to that effect to all concerned.

Manoharan said that it was time for guidelines on the building of Muslim and non-Muslim places of worship in housing estates to be extended to government-owned companies and not just private developers.

Lee Kim Sin (PKR-Kajang) said during the debate that a circular had already been issued that non-Muslim houses of worship built before 2008 could not be demolished without the approval of the state executive committee.

Lee said the state government had to study the need for new houses of worship in view of the increase in population and number of housing estates.

He suggested that non-Muslim houses of worship in Kajang and Kalumpang Hulu Selangor which were more than 100 years old be declared heritage buildings along with the Beranang mosque built over a century ago.

The assembly sitting was later adjourned.

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